RISE graduation takes place at Goodwill Opportunity Center

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – More than 60 people across the Commonwealth and six here in Bowling Green graduated from the RISE Program at Goodwill.

The Reintegrating Individuals Successfully Every Day Program aims to give those who have experienced disruptions in their lives due to things like trauma, incarceration and addiction the skills they need to build their careers or pursue higher education.

Cori Bosworth says the program really has helped her turn around her thinking.

“Right before I started this program, I didn’t have the self-esteem that I have today to be able to move forward. On going back into the community with with starting a new job or a new career path that I once did in the past,” Bosworth said.

Now, Bosworth is looking at all the opportunities she might be able to take part in now that she is in the right frame of mind and thinking about the future.

“I kind of have my eyes on furthering my education to college, as well as working in a factory to be able to to be able to finance my schooling while I’m doing that and of course, to make an everyday living,” Bosworth said.

For RISE coordinator Michael Hall, it is rewarding to see the people who continue on to success from the program, but he says that the program is about more than just jobs.

“There’s a lot of things we’re doing right here that is really self reflection to get you to take a hard look at yourself. And so, yeah, it’s, it’s a lot more than just a job training program in a way. It’s it’s almost like a life training program sometimes,” Hall said.